Escarpment Track slip, north of Pukerua Bay. Photo: Kiwirail
From the Te Araroa Wellington Trust: Please note that the Escarpment Track will be closed Tuesday and Thursday (1st and 3rd of December). On Tuesday a Te Araroa contractor will be clearing a slip across the track right above a huge slip that flows down almost to the railway line. On Thursday, KiwiRail contractors will be working from ropes placing sensors on the fences recently installed across the huge slip. These sensors will let Kiwirail train control know if any surface material has possibly slipped across the railway line. The ropes will be placed over the walking track which will therefore be dangerous to cross, hence the closure. The huge rainstorm in the area could cause other slips along the track, especially in the area of the two swing bridges. It is therefore possible that this programme may change.
Over the next six weeks the cutest little library in New Zealand (if not the world) is going to be earthquake strengthened. As much as possible the crew will be working around our opening hours, so Nuala will still be there ready to issue and return your books as always on Tuesdays & Thursdays 2pm – 5pm, and Saturdays 10am – 1pm.
Pukerua Bay now has a café of sorts – the new coffee caravan from Greedy & Co. on the grounds of the former St. Mark’s chapel on 98 Rawhiti Road, opposite the school (map).
Open 8am – 1pm, Tuesday–Saturday. Fresh roasted coffee, hot drinks and home-made baking including pies, scones, muffins, and gluten-free banana loaf.
After the successful opening day on the 4th of July, Renée and Sarah said on Facebook:
“WOW what an amazing day! We cannot believe all the support we received from all of you wonderful people! Thank you for all your patience while we found our way around our new space, it meant the world to us! See you all on Tuesday for round two”
“Thank you” photo message, from the Greedy & Co. Facebook page
The school kids proposed it, the skateboarders wanted it, the escarpment track walkers will be glad of it, and dogs will also benefit from it. The new long-awaited drinking fountain and refilling station by the skate park and playground is installed and ready to use! Check it out next time you’re out for a walk.
Work on driving the pipe down the pathway from Sea Vista Drive and building the concrete pad and small retaining wall was completed this week.
On Tuesday Mills & Albert were on site to trim vegetation and clear around the areas to be excavated. They will be working 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday. Materials will be stock piled near the overbridge to avoid disturbance to the car park and recently reopened businesses.
Contractors Mills & Albert have confirmed with PCC that they will be starting the widening and resurfacing of the shared SH1 footpath from the Pukerua Bay shops north to the overbridge next Tuesday, 19th of May. This was originally scheduled for 23rd of March, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 lock-down.
The red line indicates the extent of the works, from the shops north to the overbridge. The blue line indicates the footpath diversion while the work takes place.
This $45,000 Porirua City Council village planning project has been in the pipe for at least ten years to improve the safety of pedestrian and cyclists along SH1. It is now going ahead with matched funding from NZTA to bring the total project funding to $90,000. This funding will allow bringing the pathway up to the required NZTA standard for shared pathways, in particular that it be a minimum of two metres wide.
The existing footpath path will be widened up to 400 mm in some places with wooden edging and retaining walls where necessary. In the three locations where the path is failing and slipping down the adjacent slope, a full width path reinstatement with be undertaken. At the end of the widening works, the widened areas will be full-width resurfaced.
The minimum NZTA standard width for a shared pathway is two metres.
Footpath diversion will be in place
Mills & Albert estimate the works will take 20 working days. During this time unfortunately a footpath diversion will be in place, similar to when the retaining wall was constructed last year, but for only 4 weeks. In addition, the shortcut to the shops across the school field will be cordoned off and unavailable while this work is being done.
You will also be able to go between the overbridge and the shops via Te Motu Road and the SH1 pedestrian refuge at the shops.
These signs from the retaining wall works will be reused.
Not sure who to vote for in the Northern Ward, or for Mayor, or Greater Wellington Regional Council? There’ll be lots of chances to meet and hear from the candidates standing for this year’s local election.
Hosted by the Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association, both Northern Ward candidates, Mayoral candidates and Greater Wellington Regional Council candidates will be present to talk with you and to answer your questions. All confirmed nominations are listed here.
7pm, Monday 16 September 2019 (ical) Pukerua Bay Hall, Rawhiti Road, Pukerua Bay (map)
The beach heritage marker, part of Pukerua Bay’s He Ara Pukerua heritage project, will be unveiled by Porirua Mayor, His Worship Mike Tana. The marker covers a brief introduction to Pukerua Māori history, George Stubbs, John Nicol, Nobby Clark, beach houses, the 1962 Battle of the Rocks, the Rāhui and early artists.
This will be followed by the unwrapping of the bollard for the Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club at Brendan Bay, with members of the club.
All welcome!
10 am start, Saturday 3 August 2019 (ical) Southern beach car park, at foot of Goat Track (map)
We’re very pleased to see that NZTA has put up a “No engine braking” sign for south-bound traffic. It’s been a long battle even just to get signs installed, and David Olsen deserves credit for persisting with it. We’d like to find ways of stopping engine braking disturbing residents entirely, but this is a good start.
